HDK off fast after 28 hours

Relents after advice from worried family and partymen

break fast: Prof U R Ananthmurthy offers juice to JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy to end his fast at the Freedom Park in Bangalore on Sunday. dh Photo

Nearly 28 hours after he commenced his fast to demand a CBI probe into ruling BJP’s allegation that he and his family had amassed illegal wealth to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore, Kumaraswamy accepted a glass of fruit juice from Jnanapith awardee U R Ananthamurthy, declaring that he was “bowing to the directives” from his party and workers.

The JD(S) leader’s demand for a CBI probe remained unfulfilled, with the State government categorically stating that it had “no faith” in the investigative agency. 

However, the chief minister assured that the word “charge-sheet” would be dropped from the 55-page document titled “Amassing wealth by corrupt practices: A tell tale story of H D Kumaraswamy and family”, brought out by the BJP.

On his part, Kumaraswamy said he would continue his crusade against the alleged misdeeds of the state government in the coming days. 

Earlier in the day, Home Minister R Ashoka, Labour Minister B N Bache Gowda and Housing Minister V Somanna called on Kumaraswamy and handed over a letter to him from Yeddyurappa, requesting him to call off the fast.

In the letter signed, a copy of which was marked to Kumaraswamy’s father and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, the chief minister stated, “Since day one the BJP came to power, you have made several allegations against me, my family and by Cabinet colleagues. Some of the complaints are being heard by the courts. 

The BJP has also filed complaints in various legal forums on scams during your tenure as chief minister. Let law take its own course”. 

Yeddyurappa requested Kumaraswamy to withdraw his fast in view of his health condition. 

The JD(S) leader, however, remained adamant and stated he would continue his fast reiterating that “honour was more important to him than his life”.  

A team of doctors from Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, which conducted a medical check-up on Kumaraswamy, cautioned him against continuing the fast as his blood pressure and sugar levels fluctuated.

Kumaraswamy is a diabetic and a heart patient. With fatigue setting in, a visibly tired Kumaraswamy started to doze off. The books he had brought with him to spent time remained unopened and he stopped interacting with his partymen.

Scores of JD(S) workers, who had assembled at the venue and watching the developments, soon started shouting slogans against the government and against Yeddyurappa. They staged a rasta roko on Seshadri Road resulting in major traffic jams inconveniencing the public. The workers demanded that Yeddyurappa reach the venue and speak to their leader.

In view of the Kumaraswamy’s medical report, Deve Gowda convened an emergent meeting of senior party leaders at which it was decided to direct Kumaraswamy to call off the fast. Kumaraswamy’s mother Chennamma called her son and asked him to withdraw the fast. 

Senior JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah communicated the party's decision to Kumaraswamy and insisted that he abide by it. 

Addressing the gathering, Ananthamurthy urged Kumaraswamy to end the fast and JD(S) supporters too voiced similar sentiments. Kumaraswamy said personally he would have continued with his fast.

“My party leaders, partymen and leading personalities have been mounting pressure on me to give up the fast. I am obliging all of them and respecting their sentiments”, Kumaraswamy said.